Thoughts on spinning rod for smallys

[WI_Angler1989]

7 hours ago, PatrickKnight said:

I fish a lot of tubes, grubs, and swim baits on jig heads as well as a lot of hair jigs. I was fishing a ML fast action rod last season and wasn't getting very good hook sets (using 10 lb braid mainline) at the advice of several members of this forum I will be throwing them on a medium power fast action this season and we will see if it makes a difference.

 

Let us hear how it goes! (I know, long ways off) I use a 610mlxf rod and haven't had issues personally. My Hooksetting issues are more my own issues. I have a tendency to set too fast and not let the fish take tubes all the way.

[mike bat]

Well I have a 7 foot med fast mojo bass rod for basic smally fishing.. I want this rod for super finess fishin .. so Ima get the 7ft6 med-lite fast .. also I believe Ima get the 7ft1 med hev fast for tubes .. be nice to crack em get a solid hook set with that tube .. also I'll have my spinning rods covered .. other than that I may get a small lite rod for brook trout.. I'd like to catch a few Brookies with my son .

[strikefc34]

If you can find a Dobyns 762sf champion its a great rod for swimming grubs, hair jigs and dropshot later in the year. The 7'6" gives you a lot of rod to play the fish with light line. For swimming grubs and hair jigs I would recommend nanofil line and at most a 6lb flouro leader. The nice thing about the bay is there is very little structure to worry about losing a fish too...just open water!!!

[Hulkster]

I use a classic G. Loomis GL3 SJR842 spin jig rod for smallies. 7 foot, med power, fast action. landed my largest smallie ever on this rod:

 

[TxBuddha]

I've been fishing 7'6" MLXF St Croix Avid Inshores for about 2 years now and before that 7' ML Avids. I primarily crappie fish but there is quite a bit of "by catch" such as LMB, white bass, and catfish. I've never had an issue with the rod handling anything I've hooked. This includes catfish up to around 20#. I'm using 20# Sufix 832 with 8# or 10# fluoro leaders and 1/8 oz jigs primarily.

[bigfruits]

ive owned several Med and ML St. Croix rods in the Avid and LE line.

 

i would pick up a ML for DS, Ned rig, jigs/plastics with thin wire hooks and moving baits under 5/16oz or so. You are not going to like it for hard hooksets.

 

The Med I'd grab for 3/16-1/4oz + plastic, 1/4oz-3/8oz moving baits.

 

I think the Med will be a little more versatile. I hate (love) to tell you this but youre going to need both.

 

Hope this helps.

[bigfruits]

another good option but a little pricier than the LE is the 872s or 852s NRX. The 852 has made 3 or 4 of my other Loomis and St. Croix rods obsolete. By far my favorite spinning rod for weightless plastics and small jigs/plastics.